Sheet dispenser



H. KENMOTSU SHEET DISPENSER Nov. 25, 1952 Filed Aug. 1, 1950 INVENTOR.

15 H/RO-Shl lfislwworsu A T TOR N E Y Patented Nov. 25, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHEET DISPENSER Hiroshi Kenmotsu, San Francisco, Calif.

Application August 1, 1950, Serial No. 176,945

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved sheet dispenser of the type which is particularly adapted for dispensing paper napkins, cleansing tissues and various other kinds of flexible sheets.

The present invention embodies a receptacle which is capable of ho ding a supply of loosely folded paper sheets. A hinged lid closing the receptacle normally maintains the folded sheets in positions for independent manual withdrawal through an access slot when needed. A spring loaded pressure plate positioned in the receptacle is adapted to maintain the supply of folded sheets in accessible positions so the uppermost of the said sheets is at all times within easy reach irrespective of whether the supply is nearly exhausted. The present invention also contemplates the provision of a hinged closure member removably extending over the access slot.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a paper sheet dispenser of the kind characterized embodying means for supporting a number of folded sheets in positions for independent withdrawal as needed.

Other and further objects of my invention will be pointed out hereinafter, or will be indicatedin the appended claims, or will be obvious to one skilled in the art upon an understanding of the present disclosure. For the purpose of this application I have elected to show herein certain forms and details of a paper sheet dispen ser representative of my invention; it is to be understood, however, that the embodiment of myinvention herein shown and described is for illustration purposes only and is not to be regarded as exhaustive of the variations of the I wall 3 and a rear wall 4. A hinged lid or cover ,side the receptacle above the bottom I.

opening I. Depending ears 8 extending downwardly from the lateral edges of the cover are provided with outwardly protruding bosses 9' which cooperatively engage with recesses or openings I0 in the sides of the receptacle to releasably maintain the cover in a closed position.

The front wall 3 is somewhat shorter than the side walls 2, thereby providing an elongated slot ll through which the paper sheets may be individually withdrawn. A centrally disposed finger opening l2 in the front wall 3 is arranged in connected relationship with the slot ll. When the cover 5 is in a closed position the finger opening 1 of the said cover and the finger opening l2 of the front wall are in connected relationship.

A vertically adjustable supporting plate l3 for a sheaf or stack of doubled-over or folded paper sheets I4 is arranged in an inclined position in- A plurality of pairs of compression springs I5 arranged between the bottom I and the plate urge the said plate and the sheaf of paper sheets upwardly so that the uppermost sheet is in line with the elongated slot ll irrespective of how near exhaustion the supply of said sheets happens to be. The pair of compression springs l5 nearest the rear wall 4 of the receptacle are shorter than the pair of springs near the front wall 3, thereby causing the supporting plate l3 to be supported in an inclined position with its strip or stop member l6 which is arranged in parallel relationship with respect to the front 5 substantially rectangular shape is arranged to: close the top opening in the receptacle. The cover 5 is connected by hinge means 6 to the rear wall 4, and the free or swinging edge of the cover is centrally cut away to provide a finger and rear edges of the said cover. The rigid strip I6 is in an inclined position with respect to the cover 5 and it is so arranged as to provide an abutment with which the rear edge of the topmost sheet of the sheaf engages. The forward edges of the doubled-over sheets abut the front side of the container. The rigid strip acts as a stop which prevents the forward displacement of the rear edges of the sheets, thereby maintaining the said sheets in positions so the top sheet may be grasped and conveniently withdrawn through the elongated slot H.

Pivotally secured to the cover 5 as by hinge means I1 is an angular closure member l8 which is adapted to extend over and close the elongated slot II and the finger openings 1 and I2. When in its open position the closure member permits the removal of the sheets.

What I claim is:

1. A sheet dispenser comprising a container having a bottom, opposed lateral sides, a rear side and a front side, the said front side being shorter than the lateral sides to provide a Withdrawal slot, an upwardly swinging cover hinged at its rear edge to the rear side of the container and having a centrally disposed finger opening at its forward edge, a depending stop member secured to the cover adjacent its forward edge, the said stop member being arranged to prevent the forward displacement of the rear edges of a stack of doubled over sheets the forward edges of which abut the front side of the container, a vertically adjustable sheet supporting member mounted in the container in supporting relation with respect to the sheets, and spring means urging the sheet supporting member upwardly.

2. A sheet dispenser comprising a container having a bottom, opposed lateral sides, a rear side and a front side, the said front side having a slotted opening at its upper edge to provide a sheet withdrawal slot, an inclined vertically adjustable supporting member located in the container above the bottom for supporting a stack of doubled-over sheets, the said sheets being arranged with their forward ends abutting the front side of the container, compression springs positioned between the bottom and the supporting member, a hinged cover arranged to swing about a pivot located at the rear side of the container, the said cover having a finger opening at its forward edge, a stop member depending from the cover and arranged to prevent the forward displacement of the rear ends of the sheets of the stack and an adjustable closure member secured to the cover and having a portion arranged in one of its adjusted positions to close the finger opening and the withdrawal slot.

HIROSHI KENMOTSU.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

